The Taj Mahal – Poet Rabindranath Tagore described it as ‘a teardrop on the cheek of eternity’; Rudyard Kipling as ‘the embodiment of all things pure’; while its creator, Emperor Shah Jahan, said it made ‘the sun and the moon shed tears from their eyes’. (Lonely Planet)

 

The magical allure of the Taj Mahal makes Agra a go-to wedding destination in India. The legacy of the Mughal dynasty has left behind magnificent monuments and the Empire’s influence is also visible in the contemporary architecture in the city.  

 

Wedding Destination – Hotel ITC Mughal, Agra

In close proximity to the Taj Mahal, this luxury resort draws inspiration from the Mughal architecture – with splendid manicured Mughal-style gardens, a liberal sprinkling of intriguing pools, fountains and bridges and interiors with richly Mughal colour palette, arches, patterns and white marble floors. Recreating and personifying the grandeur of the Mughal Empire, this resort served as a perfect paradise for our wedding.

Being a wedding held during Corona times, printed invitations were a complete no-no (plus it saved a lot of paper too).

 

The invitation draws inspiration from the Mughal motifs, patterns and borders – an exquisite example of great delicacy and intricacy. With the extensive use of Buta (Hindu-Urdu: flower), one of the most significant ornamental motifs of Mughal art consisting of stylized leaves and flowers, the design of the invitation evolved to become a Mughal painting, with the monogram of the wedding couple in an elegant arch.

 

The interior colours of the wedding destination and the Mughal art influence the pastel colour palette of the invitation – the colours also seen in the wedding attires of the bride and the groom.